Splice-bar.



S. B. MILLER.

SPLIGE BAR.

APPLICATION Hmm APB. a, 1914.

1,121,749. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.V

S. B. MILLER.

SPLIGE BAR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1914.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SHREWSBURY B. MILLER, OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA.

SPLICE-BAB.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.Y

Application filed April 9, 1914. Serial No. 830,756.

To all lwhom it may concern Be it known that I, SHREwsBURY B. MIL- LER,a citizen of the United States, residing atV Fairmont, in the county ofMarion and State of I'Vest Virginia, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Splice-Bars, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in splicebars for railroad rails, beams and metal bars of all kinds used inconnection with structural iron work, the object being to provide asplice joint which is so constructed that the beams or'bars to beconnected, will be free to move longitudinally in respect to each otherin order to allow for contraction and expan- Y sion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splice joint which is soconstructed that rivets can be used instead of bolts without anydangerof spreading the rivets in connecting the rails or beams together,as the case may be.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a splice ointwhich is eX ceedingly simple and cheap in construction, the splice barsworking in connection with spacing sleeves mounted in elongated openingsformed in the bars to be connected to allow for the expansion andcontraction.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

In the drawings-Figure l, is a vertical transverse section taken througha rail, showing the application of my improved splice bars thereto; Fig.2, is a longitudinal horizontal section; Fig. 3, is a side elevationshowing the elongated openings formed in the webs ofthe rails and thespacing sleeves in position therein, so as to allow the rails to move inrespect to one another; Fig. 4f, is a detail view of a slightly modifiedform of splice bar; Fig. 5, is a longitudinal horizontal section througha slightly modilied form of splice bar; and Fig. 6, is a side elevationof a splice bar adapted to be used in connection therewith.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

In carrying out my improved invention of rail splice bar as shown inorder to clearly illustrate the same, I provide the webs of the rails land 2 with elongated openings 3 and 4 adjacent each end which areadapted to register with openings 5 and formed in the splice bars 7 and8,said bars being arranged upon the opposite sides of the webs asclearly shown in the horizontal section and are preferably securedtogether by rivets 9. The splice bars 7 and S are spaced slightly fromthe webs of the abutting rails by spacing sleeves l() arranged withinthe elongated openings 3 and l upon the rivets 9, said sleeves having alength equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the web. Inthis construction, the central portions of the rivets are entirelysurrounded by sleeves which are mounted in elongated openings formed inthe webs of the rails so that in forming the heads of the rivets, alldanger of spreading the same is prevented, and a splice is providedwhich is exceedingly strong and one which allows the bars to beconnected to expand and contract.

Vhile I have shown the same used in connection with rails, it is ofcourse, understood that a pair of bars or beams can be connected with myimproved construction of splice in such a manner that the members to beconnected will have free movement between the splice bars withoutreducing the strength of the splice in any way, the spacing sleevesstrengthening the rivets and holding the joint bars in proper positionin respect to each other.

In the modification shown in Fig. et, the bar 1l is provided w1th acircular opening 19. in which is mounted a spacing sleeve 13 having anelongated bore 14 through which the rivet l5 extends in order toallowthe bar to move in respect to the rivets which are carried by thesplice bars in the same manner as previously described, and in someinstances, thisV construction is found to have advantages over thepreferred form.

In the modiication shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a construction of splice isillustrated which can be used in connection with rails having the usualform of openings as now in use.

In carrying out my construction of splice bar to be used in connectionwith rails of this character, I provide splice bars 16 and scribed. Thesplice bar 16 is provided With spaced openings 24 adjacent one endadapted to register with the openings 2O formed in the web 19 and theopposite end of the splice bar 16 is provided With elongated openings 25adapted to register with the openings 21 in the web 18. The splice bar17 is constructed substantially identical With the splice bar 16 but isarranged reverse, so that the circular openings formed at one end arebrought into transverse alinement With the elongated openings of thesplice bar 16 and through which therivets 23 are adapted to pass, theopposite end of the splice bar Which isprovided with the elongatedopenings, receiving the rivets 22 and these rivets are provided withespecially constructed enlarged heads 26 so as to completely close the-elongated openings formed n the respective ends of the splice bars 16and 17.

Mounted on the rivet-s 22 and 23 in the elongated openings formed in thesplice bars 16 and 17 are spacing sleeves 27 which have a length equalto or slightly greater' than the thickness of the splice bar in order tospace the splice bars from the web or hold the same in suchv positionthat the Webs are free to expand and contract in respect to the splicebars. The opposite' ends of the rivets 22 and 23 are svvaged to formheads, and it Will be seen that by this construction, all dangervof therivets spreading or the sleeve being filled with heated iron by thesWaging of the head on the rivet, is dispensed With, as the rivetsemployed in this construction are formed with heads which extend overthe elongated openings and sleeves and the opposite ends of the rivetswhich pass through the circular openings of the splice bars are formedwith heads by the ordinary method now employed.

From the foregoing description, it Will be seen that I have provided asplice joint Which is so constructed that rivets can be used instead ofbolts; the members to be con-v nected, being held firmly between splicebars in such a manner that they are free to move in respect to thesplice bars in order to com pensate for the expansion and contractionthereof.

I claim:

1. In a splice bar, the combination With a pair of members arranged endto end and provided With spaced elongated openings adjacent the endsthereof, of cylindrical spacing sleeves arranged Within said openingshaving a length greater than the thickness of said members, splice barsembracing said members held out of frictional contact with said membersby said spacing sleeves, and rivets connecting said splice bars passingthroughsaid spacing sleeves.

2. In a splice'bar, the combination `With a.

pair of members having elongated openings adjacent the ends thereof, ofsplice bars embracing said members, cylindrical spacing sleeves arrangedWithin the openings of said members and engaging said splice bars at theends thereof for holding said splice bars out of frictional contactvvithsaid members, and rivets passing through said splice bars and `spacingsleeves for holding Vsaid members together, said rivets havin headscontacting with thev outer faces o said splice bars.

3. In a splice bar, the combination With a pair of members to beconnected having elongated openings adjacent the ends thereof, of asplice bar arranged on each side of said members having openingsregistering With the elongated openings of said members, cylindricalspacing sleeves arranged Within the elongated openings of said membershaving alength greater than the Vthickness of said members andcontacting with the splice bars at the ends thereof for holding saidsplice bars out of frictional contact With said members, and rivetsextending through said splice bars and spacing sleeves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SHREVVSBURY B. MILLER.

Witnesses IV. D. STRAIGHT, W. H. SPEDDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

